Mail/Identity Theft

 

A Growing Problem

 

Mail/indentity theft is a serious and growing problem throughout the Bay Area, and is expected to get worse. Only Phoenix leads the Bay Area in the nation’s mail theft cases.. Many residents don’t report mail theft to the USPS for such reasons as:

  • they don’t know how

  • they got no feedback/outcome from earlier reports

  • they are not sure what’s missing if anything

  • they are not sure what all is involved; they are not sure it’s worth the trouble.

Stolen mail is often a thief’s first step into an even worse crime: identity theft, which is the fastest growing crime in the US today, one that takes its victims hundreds of ugly hours researching damages, resolving billing disputes and restoring credit ratings.

Here's some common questions (and answers) regarding reporting of mail theft:

 

How would I know if I’d had mail stolen?

  • You might see all the mailbox doors wide open: For some thieves, this is their “calling card.” Report this immediately as a suspected theft.

  • You may discover mail you were expecting never arrived, and after confirming with the sender it was mailed, you suspect theft. While this may turn out to be misdirected rather than stolen mail, report this as a suspected theft.

  • You go to pick up your mail well past the delivery schedule, and your box is empty. You check again early in the morning…still empty. It’s not a holiday. You talk to your neighbors, and their boxes too were empty. Report this immediately as a suspected theft.

Is every complaint to the USPS followed up by the Postal Inspectors?
No. There are not enough Postal Inspectors to follow each and every complaint. However, the USPS enters every complaint into a database, and active investigations could be triggered by any part of the information you provide.

The inspectors are looking for information patterns used to catch the major criminals, or to find gangs of mail and identity thieves. They have been quite successful in the past in stopping the majority of mail theft and identity theft that has been reported in our area.

After reporting a theft to the USPS, is there any way to get feedback about the immediate pursuit or the eventual outcome?
Not at this time, but you can watch newspapers and communications from Jean Quan's office and the MSIC for general feedback. The MSIC Mail Theft Team is working to establish direct feedback on a mail claim. Details of our progress are posted at this Web site as well.

How does the Oakland Police Department (OPD) respond to 911 reports of mail theft?
They will respond to a 911 call of a mail theft in progress. Provide as much information as you can: name of the suspect, license plate of any vehicle involved, address of crime , and have personally watched the suspect steal mail, they will take a report and possibly pursue the case. If you have less than the above, they will forward the case to the USPS. This includes ongoing fraud or ongoing identity theft.

Is every complaint to the OPD followed up?
No, but every complaint is entered into the database, and active pursuit of a case could be triggered by the dollar amount at stake, indication of a trend, connection with another case, or evidence that a ring is at work.

Are all OPD cases turned over to the USPS?
They should be, but they aren’t always, and therefore OPD numbers aren’t always in agreement with USPS.

What role is the MSIC playing in making reporting a theft easier and more effective?
We are:

  • Working with OPD and USPS to Improve measurement, tracking and analysis of cases

  • Working to resolve gaps in process between OPD and USPS

  • Assisting in developing cases, under supervision of OPD/USPS

  • Providing citizen volunteers to fill resource gaps caused by budget cuts

  • Helping to clarify and simplify reporting procedures so residents get a make-no-mistake method of reporting personal experiences, and so that each agency understands the hand-offs in investigating and prosecuting a case.

What kind of data does the USPS provide on reported cases of mail theft?
The USPS provides some data on reported cases of mail theft, but they are not representative of the actual amount of mail theft going on in our area.

 

How a Mail Thief Operates

 

Who are the thieves?
A mail thief is someone who sees easy money in stealing mail. There are organized groups that descend upon neighborhoods such as Montclair, sometimes from great distances such as Phoenix, San Diego, Los Angeles or Sacramento, knowing the money in Montclair will make it worth the trip, that the distance will make them harder to track, and that until now there has been no organized mail theft prevention effort in Montclair.

Not all thieves are from afar: a current case awaiting sentencing involves a Hills neighbor preying on mailboxes within a short distance of his home.

What are thieves looking for?
Mail thieves sift through incoming and outgoing mail, looking for:

  • Identifying numbers, such as Social Security Number (SSN), bank account number, medical account identification numbers

  • Passwords: Banking account online access password, computer passwords

  • Names: Mother’s maiden name, all residents

  • Mailing addresses

  • Personal checks you have written to pay bills—they will alter the checks and cash them for lots of money

  • Credit cards - while they hope to find already activated cards, they are usually successful in using the 800# to activate a new card and use if it form personal gain

It is common practice in identity theft cases for thieves to submit false changes of address orders to the Postal Service. They will also call the victim's known financial institutions to redirect mail for fraud purposes.

What do mail thieves do with stolen information?
Mail thieves can chemically alter checks, create databases with information about you and your family, use your credit cards to purchase goods, and apply for credit in your good name.

Most mail thieves are intelligent: they understand mail, computers, how to gather information, how to assemble and relate information into a searchable database, and of course, how to use it for personal gain. One local mail thief gathered hundreds of thousands of dollars in a few months, bought computers, and kept a database on each resident he robbed, which accounts he utilized, and which were still to be hit.

 

Consider Other Devices to Protect Your Mail

 

Is there a device that would alert me when my mailbox has been opened?
There are at least two devices.  One is called Mail Guard and is sold by Radio Shack. It appears to be a discontinued item, but is still available in some stores. It uses a light-sensitive emitter attached to the inside of your mailbox door which sends a wireless signal to a receiver you have plugged into an electrical outlet in your home. It has a range of around 150 feet. The other device is called Mail Alert, and is similar to the Mail Guard but has a range of 300 - 600 feet, depending on what model you purchase. It's available from a number of E-tailers, one being http://www.outdoordecor.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/c-Remotes.html?E+scstore+Google-RemoteSensors-G2.

Why should I invest in a paper shredder?
Any mail that contains personal information about you, especially credit card, Social Security, or bank numbers, can be used by a thief to use your identity for criminal purposes. Before tossing paper with this information, either in the trash or in paper recycling bins, put it through a paper shredder. ALWAYS use a cross-cutting shredder; thieves can (and will) piece back together material shredded with a parallel blade shredder. Cross-cut (or confetti) shredders are available at office supply outlets, Costco, etc

 

About the USPS and Mail Theft

 

What do USPS Postal Inspectors do?
They are the focal point for all investigations into mail theft and associated identity theft, fraud associated with mail theft, and all other associated crimes. They investigate the crimes, and aid in the prosecution of all mail thieves.

Are USPS Postal Inspectors actively working on mail theft in our area?
Absolutely. The USPS Postal Inspectors have over 100 inspectors throughout Northern California, and six (6) inspectors assigned to an area spanned by the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Lake, and Napa. There have been 153 complaints of mail theft in the Montclair hill area this year (September 2002 to September 2003), resulting in several investigations and two major prosecutions.

How are Postal Inspectors assigned and how many serve our area?
They are assigned by zip code. A portion of one inspector is assigned to our zip code..

If mail theft is such a growing crime, why isn’t a more diligent effort applied to investigation, arrest and conviction?
It’s a question of resources. Recent budget cuts affect everything from the number of investigators that can be hired, to the number of courtrooms available for trying cases. Thefts are rising while resources to battle the war are shrinking.

Should I report mail theft to my local Post Office?
No. Local post offices are not equipped or staffed to respond to mail theft or keep records on mail theft. The local post offices forward any mail theft reports to the USPS Postal Inspectors. You will get more effective results if you report mail theft directly to the USPS Postal Inspectors at their Hotline numbers.

What role does the local postal service have regarding mail theft?
Mail carriers have been instructed to call evidence of any suspicious activity to the station, and to call the police directly if they observe a theft in progress.

They have also been instructed to be sure that mail is dropped securely into locking boxes, rather than leaving it hanging out.

How do I know if my stolen mail has resulted in identity theft?
If you suspect identity theft, the USPS Postal Inspector will provide you with guidelines and a course of action. There are also lots of internet resources. One way is to use Google or Yahoo on the Web to search for "Identity Theft Victim."

What is a likely sentence for a mail theft conviction?
Sentences are incongruously light: a drug offense will keep an offender behind bars longer than mail and identity theft. The federal statute allows a 5-year sentence, but that is rarely handed down.

How can we avoid mail carriers putting mail only partially into the locked mailboxes, thereby defeating the purpose of the locked mailbox?
Carriers are trained to insert mail completely into the box. If they don't contact your local post office.

Mail carriers leave oversized mail and packages beside the mailbox. Shouldn’t they bring it to the door?
The USPS is not required to deliver to a door. The carrier is instructed to leave a notice in your mailbox indicating undelivered oversized mail, then take the undelivered mail back to the Post Office. You pick up the mail from the Post Office (do not check the re-deliver box). Some carriers may believe they’re doing the resident a favor by leaving oversized mail at the mailbox and avoiding the need for a trip to the post office. This is contrary to their training.

Does the USPS allow moving mailboxes to a location that will more easily allow monitoring for theft?
You must obtain approval to move your mailbox. Following are basic regulations about locating a mailbox:

  • Customers must keep the approach to their mailboxes clear of obstructions to allow safe access for delivery. If USPS employees are impeded in reaching a mail receptacle, the postmaster may withdraw delivery service.

  • A curbside mailbox must be placed to allow safe and convenient delivery by carriers without leaving their vehicles.

How do I put my mail on Vacation Hold?
Mail can be placed on hold on the Internet by going to www.usps.com. Click on "Hold Mail" and you'll be taken to a secure site for entering your information. You can also pick up a "Hold Mail" card at any post office branch.

Will the USPS automatically deliver mail at the end of a Vacation Hold?
If you anticipate that the accumulated vacation mail will require an additional box from the USPS and will not fit directly into your mailbox, do not check "Have Mail Delivered." Pick it up the mail from the Post Office in person.

We’ve been told that a white look-alike postal jeep is responsible for much of our mail theft. Is this true?
The USPS auctions off postal jeeps to the public after stripping off the USPS insignia. Of course, some people buy the jeeps for legitimate uses.

The white unmarked jeeps and other vehicles are often seen leaving fliers and business cards on mailboxes. Is this legitimate or a ruse for looking innocent while stealing mail? Is it legal?
As to legality, any advertising on a mailbox or its support is prohibited. Regulations state “No part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle. Any mailable matter not bearing postage and found as described above is subject to the same postage as would be paid if it were carried by mail."